At a young age, Kyle Bouchard of Houlton had been working to improve his skills in basketball. All that hard work earned Bouchard the most prestigious state basketball title, as he is the first-ever male player north of Bangor to be honored with the Mr. Basketball title and received the award last Friday night at the Cross Insurance Center in Bangor.
“I am honored and humbled to be the recipient of this prestigious award,” said Bouchard. “When I think about this award, I immediately think of the great players who have won before me. I think about the other two finalists, who had such remarkable careers in their own right.”
Finalists for Mr. Basketball included Jack Simonds of Falmouth and Nick Mayo of Messalonskee.
“This is the highest individual award presented to a male and female basketball player in the state,” explained Mike Giordano, president of the Maine Association of Basketball Coaches. “It is awarded for commitment, dedication and excellence throughout the players’ high school careers.”
Ashley Storey of Greely High School was crowned Miss Maine Basketball. She has strong Houlton connections as her mother, Amy Wilde Storey, played on the 1986 gold ball Houlton girls basketball team. Ashley is the granddaughter of Jack and Angela Wilde of Littleton.
Other finalists for the honor of Miss Basketball were Hannah Graham of Presque Isle and Victoria Lux of Thornton Academy.
Bouchard concentrated his basketball efforts traveling throughout The County with the Aroostook Youth Basketball League and as he got older, he played in the summers on the hardwood for the AAU Maine Athletic Club, which gained national attention.
“I had so much help in getting to this moment,” said Bouchard. “I would like to thank all of the wonderful teammates that I have had along the way and I would also like to thank all of my coaches through the years, but specifically coach Rob Moran and coach Carl Parker. These two men have made a significant positive impact on my life, and for that I am very thankful.
“But, I can’t possibly mention coaches without talking about my first and lifelong coach, my dad,” he added. “He was so instrumental in building the passion and knowledge that I have for this special game.”
Bouchard played junior high basketball for Houlton and as a freshman starter, he guided the 2011-12 varsity Shires to an Class C Eastern Maine final. He did that twice, again his sophomore and junior years, capping off the 2013-14 campaign at 22-0, leading the Houlton boy’s basketball program to its second Class C gold ball.
As a freshman, he was a co-winner of the Eastern Maine Basketball Tournament’s Most Valuable Player and as a junior, he was the top vote-getter for the honor. For four years he has been the focal point of the Shiretowners’ 69-17 record.
Bouchard, a 6-foot 5-inch forward, has been a four-year starter for the Shiretowners. He racked up 1,815 career points and hauled down nearly 800 rebounds in his high school career. As a senior, he averaged 22 points per game, 11 rebounds and five assists and was named a Penobscot Valley Conference all-star.
Since his freshman year, Bouchard was the main focus of opponents, who tried to double and even triple team him at times. However, trying to stop him proved fruitless, as he is an adept playmaker, as well, finding open teammates to help the team’s cause.
Bouchard is the son of Karen and Marty Bouchard and will attend Bentley University in the fall on a four-year scholarship to play basketball. He is the grandson of Louis and Jeannette Bouchard and Terry and Jane Spurling, all of Houlton.
As Bouchard summed up his high school career, he said, “Basketball in Maine is truly something special. No matter where basketball has taken me — Canada, Virginia Beach, Florida, Kentucky, and many other places across the United States — nowhere can compare to the amazing basketball culture and atmosphere right here in Maine. I have tremendous pride for Maine basketball and I could not be more proud to be this year’s Mr. Maine Basketball.”
